Internet Safety:

With the aim to help guide children and young people toward safe, enjoyable experiences online, the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner (the Office) hopes to encourage behavioural change—where Australian children and young people act responsibly online—just as they would offline. To achieve this, we hope to both educate and help prevent harmful online behaviour from occurring in the first place. As parents, you know your child better than anyone, and have the best opportunity to help educate them so they can explore, safely.

Check out the following support services and resources to help you keep your family safe online.

The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
The Office’s website contains information and related links to support parents in keeping kids safe online. Resources include practical, action focussed advice, videos, games, support, and research-based information, and everything is free of charge.
esafety.gov.au

School support
Many schools have detailed policies and procedures in place to help support children online, including how to manage issues like cyberbullying, sexting and other online concerns.

The Department of Education policies in each state provide information for students, teachers, parents and the broader community to help raise awareness and counter the inappropriate use of technology.
For more information, contact your child’s school.

Online counselling
If you suspect or know that a child is being negatively impacted by things happening to them online, consider seeking professional support for them.

Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline service provides free, confidential online counselling for children and young people. Kids Helpline also provides young people experiencing problems online with free and private web chat counselling.
kidshelpline.com.au or phone 1800 55 1800

eHeadspace
eHeadspace is a confidential, free and secure space where young people aged 12 to 25 or their family can chat, email or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional.
eheadspace.org.au

RESOURCES
Parentline
Parentline provides a counselling, information and referral service for parents that operates seven days a week between 8am and 10pm.
parentline.com.au or phone 1300 30 1300

Lifeline
Lifeline provides free 24-hour crisis counselling and information about support services.
lifeline.org.au or phone 13 11 14.

Crime Stoppers
Crimestoppers or your local police can assist with concerns about children’s personal safety. crimestoppers.com.au or phone 1800 333 000